via Lynn press release   BOCA RATON, Fla. – Lynn University Director of Athletics Devin Crosby announced the hiring of Mindy Richmond as the inaugural head coach of the women’s lacrosse program on Friday afternoon.  Richmond comes to the Fighting Knights from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and will build the institution’s 19^th NCAA Division II sport from the ground up with competition beginning in the 2019-20 athletic season. The Newark, N.Y., native will assume responsibilities beginning July 2.

(Author’s note: Newark is 15 miles from Geneva!  Cool to have another upstate native in Boca!)

“Mindy’s name was a constant in the various conversations we engaged in through our process to recruit the premier collegiate lacrosse coach in the nation,” said Crosby.  “After meeting with her and looking at her background of success and entrepreneurial thinking, it was clear she needed to lead Lynn University’s women’s lacrosse program.” Richmond is simply put, the greatest women’s lacrosse coach in IUP history.  She assumed control of the Crimson Hawks program in 2009 and has accumulated a 105-67 (.610) record with seven double-digit win seasons, six consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) postseason appearances and a program-record streak of 31 straight weeks ranked in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Poll. “I am truly honored to be joining Lynn University as the first women’s lacrosse coach,” said Richmond.  “I would like to thank President Kevin M. Ross and Director of Athletics Devin Crosby for entrusting me to build on the foundation of Spirit, Service and Strength that they have worked on so diligently. “The incredible support of the athletic department, alignment of values and matched desire for success made this decision a clear one as I look to advance my career and take on a new challenge. I am anxious to use my 13 years of collegiate coaching experience to develop and establish a top-tier women’s lacrosse program at Lynn and in the competitive Sunshine State Conference and spread this amazing game in the South Florida area.” While Richmond has never built a program from scratch, she inherited a Crimson Hawks program which had been through five coaches in its first 11 years of existence, recorded one winning season and managed more than three league victories just once.  She became the program’s all-time wins leader by her second season, and posted the first of seven consecutive double-digit win seasons by her third year at the helm. “Mindy’s personal attitude of confidence balanced with humility is in direct alignment with the Fighting Knights’ way,” added Crosby.  “She will establish our women’s lacrosse program while mentoring our student athletes with the attributes of Spirit, Service and Strength.” During her time in Indiana, Pa., Richmond’s student athletes have garnered eight All-America, three freshman All-America, 15 All-region and 33 All-PSAC selections.  She took home PSAC Coach of the Year honors in 2013 after starting the year with a school-record 11 straight wins and breaking or tying 10 single-season school records. Richmond’s offenses have been exciting during her coaching tenure, as the Crimson Hawks ranked in the top-5 in scoring offense twice and top-20 four times. Not only the first women’s lacrosse coach in school history, Richmond will be just the second NCAA lacrosse coach in South Florida, joining Palm Beach Atlantic, which began its inaugural season in 2018. Bobby Campbell Stadium will add another tenant as the women’s lacrosse program will play under the lights and enjoy a new locker room provided by longtime university supporter Mary Ann Perper. Lynn begins competition in the spring of 2020 and will join Embry-Riddle, Florida Southern, Florida Tech, Palm Beach Atlantic, Rollins, Saint Leo and Tampa in an SSC which won the 2017 national title and had schools finish as national semifinalists or better four times in the last four years. Prior to her arrival at IUP, Richmond served two seasons on the coaching staff of her alma mater, Gannon University, where she helped the Golden Knights to a 23-8 record, a pair of top-10 national rankings and one of the top offenses in the country. Richmond was a volunteer assistant coach at Gannon during the 2006 season following a record-breaking four-year playing career with the Golden Knights. As a senior, she led the nation with 88 goals, which were the most in school history and fourth highest single-season total in Division II history. Richmond is also at Gannon and 15th in the country in career goals with 219 and shares the school record with nine goals in a game against Saint Vincent in 2004, and scored seven or more goals in a game a total of 10 times. Richmond was named to the IWLCA All-American squad following her junior and senior seasons and served as team captain both years. She was nominated by Gannon for the 2005 NCAA Woman of the Year award. Richmond received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 2005 and earned her master’s in sport science from IUP in 2012.